The Crosswalk

About me

Not AI

Right now, I'm sitting on the porch, trying to figure out what to tell you about me. I've been thinking about it off and on all week, trying to set up this website and write in my own voice without asking AI for too much help. It's important to me that I write to you as a person, not as Chat.

Human

As I sit here, trying to convince you that I'm part of a live internet that contains real humans, I'm hearing the chitter of sparrows flitting around in the bushes, which are showing bright green tips of new growth. I hear the hum of an edger at my neighbor's house, and the drone of a gas-powered mower down the street at another's. Did I pass your captcha A test, question, or checkbox confirming that you're not a robot. ? Am I a robot?

Phone a friend or phone is friend?

I may not be a robot, but my phone is pretty close. I'm not the only one hearing all this life around me this morning. My phone is snug in my side pocket, a place of honor where it won't get sat on. It's with me all the time, as is its microphone, camera, GPS, bluetooth, wifi, and a myriad of sensors collecting data that are sent out, where it's used by companies to sell my data to each other, to analyze my movements and habits, or to build a profile on me so they can try to sell me things. It works on the odd occasion. They're very good at what they do to target you and me. And we may not think "my phone is always with me" as relevant to "about me," but it definitely is for this blog.

Busy parent

The data sent about me likely knows that it's a chill, humid spring morning since it rained last night. Weather APIs have this information, and just needs my location. I don't have to water the little bit of food and flowers I'm growing. I feel like I'm having a nice, quiet moment in solitude, but if you have a piece of technology with you, you're really not alone. These companies know so much about us that it feels like they're reading our minds. Do they know that I'm thinking about my youngest? As I write, I look up at the little grey landscaping rocks lined up along my porch. My youngest son likes to pick out the best ones with interesting sparkly flecks and line them up on the porch edge. My oldest is on his way to school. My house always has someone in it and normally is pretty rowdy, so a quiet moment like now is rare for me.

Critters

I blame my phone for taking notes on me, but I hear my velcro pittie mix sniffing at the front door. I know our tabby cat is looking down on it all from his favorite spot on the stairs. He's never far behind. I can give them a pass for keeping tabs on me. But if an actual person followed me around all day with a notepad, documenting everything I did and then profiting from those notes? Well, I think that would be called stalking, but we accept it from these companies.

I have to use tech, but I don't want to be used by it

I'm like you. I want to live my life in peace. I want freedom. I want to be able to go about my day and do the things I need to do. Spending time with my family is one of the most important things. But in all that, I have to accept some level of this surveillance, this data buying and selling ecosystem, because there are apps, products, and services that I absolutely have to interact with as a regular person, a parent, a woman, a shopper, and a member of several target demographics.

The Engineer

I know tech from a different angle

So I'm like you, but one way you and I might be different is I'm a programmer. I honestly don't like the term engineer for what I do, but well, it's in my job title. I was able to confidently switch away from Windows or Apple OS, for example, because I am familiar with one of the alternatives, Linux An alternative to Windows or MacOS on computers. . I can troubleshoot things on a phone operating system The core software that manages a computer and lets applications run. This would be Windows or MacOS on computers, Android or iOS for phones, for example. that's different and I'm ok with more "workarounds" than other people might be. However, I am able to tell you if something works or not for a busy life, and I'll be honest about any frustrations. If you have no time for nonsense, I get it.

Why I started this blog

Some people can disappear, but I can't

The idea for this blog came from how I'm interested in having privacy, security, and a better user experience with the technology I have to use everyday. Searching about that online seems to just get me to "how to become a ghost," which I'm interested in, but isn't feasible. If you have to interact with hospitals, urgent care, or doctor's offices, you'll know you can't refuse to hand over your ID or refuse to provide personal information. They won't treat you. To enroll my kids in school, they wanted personal documents and information e-mailed to them.* On top of that, you need to provide a little bit of your child's medical record. Then there are school apps and day care apps. Those have to work on your phone. Will they work on something "weird" and "different?"**

  • Please don't e-mail identity or important financial documents. Insist on doing that in person, or at the very least you can put them in cloud storage temporarily and share a link to it via e-mail.

** They do on my GrapheneOS An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. phone!

This is tech explained, without gatekeeping

I feel like the advice I'm able to find online comes from people who don't share my life experience. I'm not a man, so maybe that's why I can't get past a reception desk without ID. I'm not single, so I have my family to think about, and I have to do what I can to protect their privacy, safety, and security on top of my own when the systems we must interact with are set up to violate all three.

Let me show you what else is out there

I'm a parent and I am a big fan of free and open source Software whose code is publicly available and modifiable. Transparency, collaboration, and often free as in free lunch are important parts of the open source model. tools to be able to keep my family safe. I use Linux An alternative to Windows or MacOS on computers. on my laptop and desktops and I have a phone with GrapheneOS An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. instead of stock Android or iOS. I want to share my knowledge with you, and I can provide a different perspective on whether an open source Software whose code is publicly available and modifiable. Transparency, collaboration, and often free as in free lunch are important parts of the open source model. life works for someone like you.

Walk sign is on to cross. Follow me as I lead you across The Crosswalk to another way.

The Crosswalk

I offer honest, practical suggestions to help you gain independence from big tech on the things that matter most. I know some corners of the internet can get pretty snobbish about tech. I promise this isn't one of them.

If you're tired of feeling stuck with broken options, changing terms of service, constant data harvesting, and powerlessness against big tech, you're in the right place. Stick around, and let's figure this out together.